Tax returns e-filed by professionals through the week that includes April 15:

2021    55.5 million
2020    49.3 million
2019    70.5 million (and about the same number, for 2015-2018)

Between 2019 and 2020, when the deadline was moved to July 15, the count dropped by 21.2 million. So far this year, 6.2 million of the April 15 filers have returned – while 15 million have not.

But are these clients permanently lost? Compare the numbers from last year, through October 15, with those before the pandemic.

2020:    80.1 million
2019:    80.3 million

There seems to be the same amount of work – probably more, since many returns are now more complicated. But it is spread out through the long, hot summer. Well, there’s no place to travel anyway.